St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-22
OFF TO SIBERIA.
Lifelong Sufferings of the Cars
Subjects Doomed to Exile.


Usually, writes New York Sun cor
respondent from st. Petersburg, when
suspect is placed on examination or
trial, and is permitted to make de-
Tense, he employs his attorney under
contract like this: If sentenced to ST.
IBERIA, the fee shall be LOCO roubleS; if
only one years Imprisonment, 5000
rOubleS; if acquitted. 10000 r0ubleS.
The trials are then conducted under the
principles of the Russian prOverb: 1.-The
cause is decided when the court receives
a present" Thus the success of the
lawyer depends upon his ability i'll
pleasing the judges taste III present
giving. 1t is not once in twenty times
that prisoner suspected of crime
against the crown is acquitted.
The exile who can afford to do So
and there are many persons of wealth
and influence who thus meet imperial
contempt-equips his own special cara
van. has liyeried or special guards,
passes through the village on the way,
faring sumptuOusly,fO for he has certain
time in which to report to his officer, and
and makes of usually sad journey one
not altogether devoid of pleasure. The
poor man or woman, however, is chained
TO the string of cOnvictS, loaded into
rickety vehicles at the end of the rail
or water tip, and lumbers along like a
funeral procession, going around
settlements, and seldom being allowed
a stop. Their fare is salt meat
or fish, black bread and tea. Patriots,
cOnSpiratOrS, thieves, murdererS and
persons convicted of every crime are
linked together, travel on the same
level. fare alike, sing the same songs, if
tbax- do rnt avn tho camp THOUGHTS and
occupy the same country for life. 1t is
generally believed, outside of Russia,
that all Siberian eXiles are required to
work in the mines. This is not true.
Only portion are sentenced to the
mines-those who were condemned to
hard labor. Exile in Siberia means,
as general rule, only enforced
Of country. The government al
lows a pension to the eXileS sufficient to
scantily clothe and feed them. The al
lOWance is about six roubleS month,
or less than s.. This will procure a
place to sleep and coarse food. Once
here it is next to impossible to escape.
The exile, in the first place, is landed
in the heart of wild country, sur
rounded by wild animals, little or no
civilization, and it is out of the question
to think of escape, even though the exile
is provided with food and raiment for
the long journey.
Among the most numerous classes in
Siberia are the writers. The authors of
books, newspaper articles, and teachers
of seditiOus sentiment, as well as those
who would take the forum for free or
constitutional government, find early
refuge in the north. Landed in Siberia.
it is the ambition of the educator of
public opinion to tell the outside world
his condition and the horrors of the
country. Here one could find suffi-
cient foundation for any number
of romances and heroic acts. Vari-
Gus schemes are reSOrted to to get let
tiers to friends. Occasionally in the col
ums of newspapers outside of Russia
appear letters from Siberian eXileS de-
failing life there, and they are enough
to harrow the soul, but it has little eff
feet upon the authorities. Indeed, l am
told that they would not object to the
publication of these letters within the
empire, as they take pride in keeping
up the reputation of the country, since
to reflect upon life in exile has a whole
some influence upon wOuld-be Dihilists.